Geelani, Mirwaiz arrested; Malik continues to remain in detention

Srinagar : Chairmen of the both the factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq were detained after they defied house arrest restrictions and stepped out of their residences today. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik remained under detention while several other separatist leaders were placed under house arrest. Chairmen of both the factions of the HC and JKLF chief had called for “Jamia Masjid Challo” to pay tribute to all those who were killed in security force firing since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district. However, authorities imposed curfew in Srinagar and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in the valley to prevent 'Jamia challo march'.

The Mirwaiz defied house arrest restriction and left his Nigeen house to lead a procession to historic Jamia Masjid in the Shehar-e-Khas, where no Friday prayers were offered for the third consecutive week today. However, immediately after Mirwaiz stepped out of his house, he was taken into custody and lodged in police station Nigeen. Meanwhile, as soon as Mr Geelani stepped out of his Hyderpora residence this afternoon to lead a march to Jamia masjid, police personnel immediately took him into custody. He was later lodged in police station Humhama in the central Kashmir district of Badgam. JKLF chairman Malik, who was arrested on July 9, has been lodged in police station Kothibagh. A number of other senior separatist leaders have also been put under house arrest or detained in police stations in the valley.